Electric or gas

[jbowman]

I have been heat treating as I was taught in the 80s, in a coal and gas forge and with a torch, tempering with a toaster oven… I get good results with simple steels. Good enough at least. But… I would like to up my game to better steels and get more precise control. I have parts for an electric kiln, and gas furnace, and have just stumbled upon Donn Foggs drum furnace. Over the course of time I will likely put one of each together but my time seems to less shop oriented than I would like lately so I need to pick one. Question is, electric, small gas or giant gas? I am working on kitchen blades so I don’t really need pieces over 20” heated. 

[Alan Longmire]

If you stick with carbon steels, a small gas unit might be better since you can keep a reducing atmosphere to avoid scale/decarb.  Harder to keep precise control, but a 40# propane tank shell and a good regulator, combined with a responsive thermocouple, and you're set provided you are there monitoring the whole time.

 

If you want to stretch into stainless, electric is the way to go. Easier precision for longer soaks, just invest in some 309 stainless HT foil and learn to use it right.